wind in the dark night

Chapter 263 So that’s it
"I have brought all the things. Please pass them on to Chief Gao. In addition..."

Liu Wanchun opened the rattan box, took out a can of tea from it and placed it on the coffee table: "I heard from Li Changgong that Officer Qi likes to drink tea. I just happen to have a can at home, so I brought it here specially. It's a small token of my appreciation. Please don't refuse it."

"I do like tea..."

Qi Yue picked up the tea can and took a look. It was a can of ordinary jasmine tea. It felt heavy in his hand. Judging from his experience, it must be filled with gold or silver. So he said, "Thank you for your kindness, Mr. Liu. I will not refuse it."

Liu Wanchun said with a smile: "Please say a few good words to Chief Gao. After the matter is completed, Liu will give you a thank-you gift."

Qi Yue frowned and pretended to be embarrassed: "According to what you said, the gold mine is completely fictitious and does not exist at all. But Chief Gao's sources of information have always been very accurate. I feel that he does not completely believe it..."

"Didn't Zhang San testify?"

"Zhang San is a thief. You can't trust what he says."

"This……"

"Mr. Liu, it would be nice if there was a third person to testify to your case."

"Even if there is a third person, he can't testify for me. Sigh..."

Liu Wanchun looked worried.

Qi Yue asked: "Who is that person?"

Liu Wanchun hesitated for a moment: "Well, he was a businessman from another province, and he also came to the mountains to collect mountain products. After that day, he left Liujiabao and I don't know where he went."

Qi Yue walked to the window, looked at Li Changgong who was chopping wood in the yard, and said calmly: "Mr. Liu, you asked me to do something, but you refused to tell me the truth. How can I tell Chief Gao? Are we two colluding to deceive him? You should take the tea back. I can't do anything for you."

Liu Wanchun said: "Everything I said is true. You can ask Li Changgong."

Qi Yue sneered: "He is just a farmhand, what can he know? In his eyes, I am also a merchant who collects mountain products... If it looks like this, that person should also have a special identity, otherwise, there is no need for you to hide it for him."

Liu Wanchun was speechless.

Qi Yue looked at him and said slowly: "In addition, I need to remind you that no matter whether he is from this province or another province, as long as he has a name and surname, it is not difficult to find him with the ability of the Special Agent Department."

Liu Wanchun was speechless for a long while.

Qi Yue said: "I really don't understand. There was clearly a third person present who could stand up and testify for you. Why are you unwilling to speak? Could it be that... that person is an anti-bandit?"

Before his death, Zhang San mentioned that there was a man present who came to borrow grain, and borrowing grain should be related to the Anti-Japanese United Army, so Qi Yue asked this question.

Liu Wanchun sighed: "You guessed right, that man is the bandit. That day, he came to discuss borrowing grain. Zhang San was careless and thought that the bandit was my family member. In front of him, he took out the gold from the mine and asked me to identify its quality..."

Qi Yue asked: "What's his name?"

"He didn't say, and I was too lazy to ask. He should be the leader of the anti-bandit movement. He came here on behalf of Zhang Zhaolin, and he is usually the one in charge."

"Go on."

"At that time, I asked the housekeeper to take Zhang San out, thinking that I would go and identify the quality of the gold in the mine after the discussion on borrowing grain to fight against the bandits was over."

"Didn't the anti-bandit say anything?"

"He asked me where I got the gold from, and I made up a lie, saying that my youngest son picked it up from an abandoned mine while playing in the mountains." "Why did you say that?"

Liu Wanchun was helpless: "Zhang San was a fool. He took out a piece of gold as soon as he entered the house and asked me to identify its quality. At that time, he was carrying a bamboo basket. It was just the beginning of spring, and his face was sweating. You can see how heavy the bamboo basket was. I knew without asking that it must be full of gold. I was worried that the anti-bandit would be tempted by the money, so I didn't tell the truth."

Qi Yue thought for a moment and asked, "Does anyone else know about this nonsense of yours?"

"No. I can't tell anyone. The last time you came to Liujiabao, you mentioned the gold mine to me. I was wondering how you knew about it."

Liu Wanchun looked confused and puzzled.

After hearing this, Qi Yuequan understood that Gao Kejian's source of information was the man who went to Liujiabao to borrow grain. He told Gao Kejian everything he saw and heard in Liujiabao.

Gao Kejian naturally would not let go of this opportunity to get rich overnight. In order to verify the authenticity of the news, he sent people to secretly monitor Liu Wanchun.

Liu Wanchun went to Xinjing and, with the help of his son Liu Xiaochen, secretly sold 15 kilograms of mined gold, further proving the existence of the "gold mine".

The logic is very simple: under normal circumstances, you might be able to pick up a piece of gold, but 15 kilograms is absolutely impossible. If there is no gold mine at home, how could there be so much gold?

There is no doubt that the person who went to Liujiabao to borrow grain was either a spy planted by Gao Kejian or a traitor who was instigated to rebel. This person is extremely dangerous. Once he seizes the opportunity, the entire Binjiang detachment will be destroyed!
"I really admire Chief Gao. Nothing can be hidden from him. He is so amazing."

Liu Wanchun said with emotion.

Qi Yue thought for a moment and said, "Since that anti-bandit was present, why did you conceal the truth for him? And you even made up a story to deceive me."

Liu Wanchun was somewhat embarrassed: "It's better to have less trouble than more. I'm guilty enough now. He came to borrow grain. If I bring up this matter, I'll have one more crime."

Qi Yue sat down and unscrewed the lid of the teapot. He observed that two gold bars weighing at least one or two taels were undisguisedly stuffed between the tea leaves.

Liu Wanchun said: "I believe that even if there are no other witnesses, as long as Officer Qi is willing to speak for me, my troubles can be resolved satisfactorily."

"You just said that after the matter is completed..."

"After the matter is done, there will be a thank-you gift."

Qi Yue nodded: "Okay, I'll go talk to Section Chief Gao. But remember, after you go back, don't say a word about this matter - including to your family. Everyone has people who know about it. If the news leaks out and people know that Section Chief Gao accepted your things, the consequences will be quite serious."

Liu Wanchun kept saying, "Don't mention it, I definitely won't mention it! Don't worry, I've lived to this age, and I know how to keep my mouth shut. From now on, I'll keep this matter to myself!"

Qi Yue asked: "Which hotel are you staying in?"

Liu Wanchun said: "The Limin Inn on Xinmin Street is in an alley. Opposite it is a photo studio. What's its name?..."

"Mei Man Photo Studio."

"Yes, yes, Meiman Photo Studio."

Qi Yue said, "Go back and rest. I'll write to you in a day or two."

"Then please, goodbye."

Liu Wanchun left the room and said to Li Changgong, who was wiping his sweat, "Let's go."

(End of this chapter)